VERA Files
Our coverage of environment and climate change issues, including “cold” cases of environment disasters. Earth Files is supported by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network, which aims to empower journalists from developing countries to cover the environment more effectively.
Various studies support the theory that COVID-19 is a zoonotic disease — one that originated from animals and passed on to human beings. What has still to be confirmed is the culprit animal species. Yet, bats, snakes and pangolins have already become prime suspects.
It’s an uneasy calm around Taal volcano almost a week after it spewed enormous ashes that blanketed surrounding towns forcing thousands of families to flee to ash-covered but safer grounds.
Residents of Batangas were startled when the Taal, which has been quiet for more than four decades – suddenly rumbled and spewed ashes that enveloped nearby towns and cities, reaching as far as Quezon City and Antipolo.
It is around the holidays that the country generates the biggest volume of garbage, including plastic, says Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu, so consumers are reminded to reuse and recycle and choose materials that do not harm the environment.
Ten years to the day, the memories of that disaster are still vivid in many people’s minds.
The protests, part of the Global Climate Strike, reverberated around the world with 5,800 activities in 163 countries from Sept 20-27.
Twenty-seven-year-old fashion entrepreneur Prince Jimdel Ventura has not bought “new” clothes for five years. He hopes that his company “Wear Forward” will help others do the same, especially in light of the global call to address the problem of climate change.
Science and environment writer Tristan Mañalac’s feature article on fruit bats was cited in SciShortform, an online publication that highlights standout science writing.
“President Rodrigo Duterte’s government has ramped up its campaign of ‘red-tagging’ rights activists, including land and environmental defenders, as communist sympathizers, terrorists or supporters of a group of armed insurgents called the New People’s Army (NPA),” said Global Witness
Typhoon Ompong (international name Mangkhut) barrelled through the highlands on Sept 15, 2018 and buried alive a community of small-scale miners who sought refuge in a bunkhouse and makeshift church in Ucab, Itogon town, not knowing it would be their grave.